Craig got arrested

The lead singer of rock band the Vines is accused of assaulting his parents and leaving a policeman injured after an alleged violent rampage at his house.

Police said songwriter and guitarist Craig Nicholls, 35, who has Asperger syndrome, punched his mother twice in the head about 12.15pm on Saturday before police used capsicum spray to subdue him after he resisted arrest.

Hurstville police Inspector Robert Duncan alleged Nicholls tried to run from police who were called to the house in Terry Street, Connells Point, where he lived with his family.

"A police officer suffered grazes, cuts and bruises to both elbows and knees and was treated at St George Hospital," he said.

Nicholls was arrested and charged with five offences, including two counts of domestic assault, stalking or intimidation, resisting arrest and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

His parents took out an AVO and he is expected to appear before Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.

In 2002 the Vines went from playing tiny Sydney pubs to being on the cover of American Rolling Stone as the face of "new rock", only to virtually implode one album later.

Their debut was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic and they were the most prominent and promising of the bands in this new movement, which included the likes of the Strokes and Melbourne's Jet.

Mixing Beatlesque melodies and Nirvana-like guitar thrashes they were seen as capable of being played on both pop and rock radio.

However, Nicholl's as yet undiagnosed condition saw him go from being called eccentric to destructive and violent and the band was forced to cancel tours and TV appearances.

It wasn't until 2006 and their third album that the complications of Aspergers were openly discussed around the band and the band's touring, recording and media commitments adjusted to aid Nicholls.

By then though the band's sales and audience were both on a seemingly inexorable decline.

The band formed in the early '90s after Nicholls met two other group members while working at McDonald's South Hurstville. He dropped out of Marist College Penshurst in year 10 to pursue his love of music and songwriting.

The group's name is a reference to a 1960s band that Nicholls's father Terry played in, called the Vynes.

The lead singer of rock band the Vines is accused of assaulting his parents and leaving a policeman injured after an alleged violent rampage at his house.

Police said songwriter and guitarist Craig Nicholls, 35, who has Asperger syndrome, punched his mother twice in the head about 12.15pm on Saturday before police used capsicum spray to subdue him after he resisted arrest.

Hurstville police Inspector Robert Duncan alleged Nicholls tried to run from police who were called to the house in Terry Street, Connells Point, where he lived with his family.

"A police officer suffered grazes, cuts and bruises to both elbows and knees and was treated at St George Hospital," he said.

Nicholls was arrested and charged with five offences, including two counts of domestic assault, stalking or intimidation, resisting arrest and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

His parents took out an AVO and he is expected to appear before Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.

In 2002 the Vines went from playing tiny Sydney pubs to being on the cover of American Rolling Stone as the face of "new rock", only to virtually implode one album later.

Their debut was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic and they were the most prominent and promising of the bands in this new movement, which included the likes of the Strokes and Melbourne's Jet.

Mixing Beatlesque melodies and Nirvana-like guitar thrashes they were seen as capable of being played on both pop and rock radio.

However, Nicholl's as yet undiagnosed condition saw him go from being called eccentric to destructive and violent and the band was forced to cancel tours and TV appearances.

It wasn't until 2006 and their third album that the complications of Aspergers were openly discussed around the band and the band's touring, recording and media commitments adjusted to aid Nicholls.

By then though the band's sales and audience were both on a seemingly inexorable decline.

The band formed in the early '90s after Nicholls met two other group members while working at McDonald's South Hurstville. He dropped out of Marist College Penshurst in year 10 to pursue his love of music and songwriting.

The group's name is a reference to a 1960s band that Nicholls's father Terry played in, called the Vynes.

Very tough to take in. I know he has AS, but sometimes its hard to remember it. He's a rock musician who's created some beautiful art. and his wild antics from his condition just kind of fit in with his rock persona. Takes something like this to really make you realize how serious things are for him. Serious enough to cancel out numerous tours, ruin opportunities with his band, etc. I feel for him and his family

Very tough to take in. I know he has AS, but sometimes its hard to remember it. He's a rock musician who's created some beautiful art. and his wild antics from his condition just kind of fit in with his rock persona. Takes something like this to really make you realize how serious things are for him. Serious enough to cancel out numerous tours, ruin opportunities with his band, etc. I feel for him and his family

You are right. This will definitely impact his future, no doubt about it. These might become serious charges in a complicated and serious situation. I don't have anyone close to me with AS but this definitely brings the issue closer to heart. This is extremely tough for me. I still don't know what to think. Just that things are so difficult and difficult for him especially.

This is so unbelievable..Something has gone so very wrong for this to happen..I'm scared what the consequences might be for Craig and the effect this will now have on him and his family..My heart is breaking

This will put a cloud over the album w/Nick & touring in support of it.Also I wonder what Sony Aus would think of, seeing that they just recorded album no.6 they might drop the band if he's imprisoned.

Don't get me wrong I wasn't thinking of the music at first but now after this it kinda throws a massive spanner in the works for what I thought was going to be a triumphant return to the main spotlight for Craig. Unfortunately he attracted it for the wrong reasons. Look honestly there's a great chance that charges will be dropped for his mental illness, he might be sent back to the doctors more often & delay the releases of the 2 albums for it as well for him to just kinda fly under the radar & stay away from anything being spread around about him.

I can't believe this!!! I was so exited to hear new stuff from the vines and craig solo... I can't imagine why he should do something like that.If this is true, it will destroy his carear forever This has to be a missunderstanding

Hi, I've been a member of this forum for quite a while, haven't felt the need to post until now.This is all very sad & really unexpected, from what I've read/seen I didn't think Craig was a violent person.He obviously needs some help, hopefully this will force him to get it.Thanks for the info VisionValley.

I think maybe there should be less excuses made for Craig. He punched his mother and I don't really know what kind of person does that. Aspergers doesn't give him the green card to act violently. I remember reading that his parents called the police on him when he was much younger too.... who knows what's going on at home, but he's a 35 year old man now (!!) and it all just sounds a little pathetic. I feel for his family, and for him too, but this is so so disappointing when you absolutely idolise a musician.

I think maybe there should be less excuses made for Craig. He punched his mother and I don't really know what kind of person does that. Aspergers doesn't give him the green card to act violently. I remember reading that his parents called the police on him when he was much younger too.... who knows what's going on at home, but he's a 35 year old man now (!!) and it all just sounds a little pathetic. I feel for his family, and for him too, but this is so so disappointing when you absolutely idolise a musician.

You are so right! There's no excuse to get violent with your family or any other person. He really needs to get treatment soon enough and probably move out of his parents house, I know it's hard to have aspergers or any other psychological problem, but c'mon, he's not a kid anymore, he must take responsibility of his actions. It did make me sad at first when I found out, but at the same time, I was so mad, violence is not good in any case.

When you google "the vines" lots of stuff on this story pops up. When I've googled them in the past after new albums coming out, you'd find very little. This is the biggest thing that's happened to the band in years, and it has nothing to do with music

I don't know a lot about the situation, as none of us do. I don't know who to be mad at, or what to believe. Craig did an awful thing, regardless. I hope he seeks out help to prevent what's happened from ever happening again. He's 35, not 18. If he can't seek out help and take the steps needed to help himself, then he should be under constant supervision.

And for the sake of his career and his family life, I hope he issues some kind of apology.

We can't be sad or disappointed of Craig, coz we don't know what really happend, live in Argentina make me realize that media (press, newspapers and tv) lie a lot. They exaggerate everything to get more shocking news.

Yes but if he really did get arrested like that link seemed to show proof of, then it must have been something really bad. And yes, i know the press do lie a lot and exaggerate, but then again, do they always? Saying the police officer had bruised elbows and knees makes it sound like he had to tackle Craig to the ground and that Craig was so out of control, they had to use pepper-spray on him to subdue him. That's pretty crazy. I really don't wanna picture that scenario..let alone Craig hitting his mom.